Child Protection Training Center

The Child Protection Training Center (CPTC) at the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics provides exceptional training for child protection workers both locally and nationally. The Child Protection Training Center is unique to the southeast region and one of only four centers of its kind nationally.

The Child Protection Training Center offers a rare opportunity for multi-disciplinary team members to hone their skills by following real world scenarios from intake to prosecution. Comprised of both a mock house and a mock courtroom, the Child Protection Training Center presents its participants with hands on opportunities to improve their skills in detection, reporting and responding. Trainings provided by similar centers, have proven to improve competence and confidence levels of participants, which leads to improved prevention, investigations and prosecutions, as well as lower employee turnover.

Through its partnerships nationally with the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center and locally with the Child Advocacy Studies Program at USC Upstate, the Child Protection Training Center will ensure it is always offering the most current trainings to benefit children, those who work in the child protection field and ultimately the community as a whole.

Training

Upcoming Training

First Responder Training

This full-day training course is designed to provide first responders with a better understanding of best practices for initially responding to cases involving child abuse allegations. The training will provide an understanding of how and why the first response can be crucial to the entire multi-disciplinary team and a successful child abuse investigation. Training is intended for patrol officers, paramedics/EMTs and firefighters who may be first to regularly encounter children in abusive environment. More dates coming soon!

Investigation and Prosecution of Child Abuse

Intended for all members of multi-disciplinary teams, this course provides an overview of the major elements in the investigation and prosecution of cases of child maltreatment. The course can be adapted as needed to focus on particular issues in the hosting jurisdiction and to highlight issues or problems currently being faced by local MDT members. More dates coming soon!

Investigation and Prosecution of Child Abuse

Intended for all members of multi-disciplinary teams, this course provides an overview of the major elements in the investigation and prosecution of cases of child maltreatment. The course can be adapted as needed to focus on particular issues in the hosting jurisdiction and to highlight issues or problems currently being faced by local MDT members. More dates coming soon!

Forensic Interviewer at Trial

Location: Child Protection Training Center, 160 E. St. John Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 This course is designed for forensic interviewers, prosecutors, law enforcement, child protection attorneys, and others in child protection who use forensic interviewer testimony at trial or during hearings on behalf of child protective services. Registration fee: $50 (Light breakfast and lunch provided) More dates coming soon!

Professionals are exposed to real-world scenarios, and practice their skills with other professional members in authentic multi-disciplinary teams. Trainings are based on evidence-supported methods and are taught by experienced professional leaders.

The Charles J. Hodge Mock Courtroom provides those working in the child protection field with a setting to help prepare for both the process of taking cases to trial and the ultimate goal—bringing justice to the victims and making them feel safe.

Child Protection Training Center partners with the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center in Minnesota, state and federal law enforcement agencies, the South Carolina Children’s Trust and Children’s Law Center, and Greenville Children’s Hospital. No comparable training center exists in the Carolinas.

The Hodge and Langley Law Firm is proud to help the Upstate community improve its skills in detecting, reporting and responding to child abuse and neglect as the lead donor for the courtroom.

Poliakoff Mock Jury Deliberation Room

The Poliakoff Jury Deliberation Room allows focus groups and other training participants including students, the opportunity for process critique and remote and two-way courtroom observation.

Funded by Gary Poliakoff of Poliakoff & Associates, this is a laboratory for understanding and enhancing the legal process on behalf of child abuse victims. One of only a few facilities like this in the United States, the Poliakoff Jury Deliberation Room enhances the Charles J. Hodge Mock Courtroom by serving as a resource for legal professionals and all who participate in the path from crime scene to trial, from suffering to justice.Additionally, the Poliakoff Jury Deliberation Room serves as a multi-purpose room for the Child Protection Training Center.

Mock House

The Mock House is a hands-on training facility that provides real world training opportunities for child protection professionals. The Mock House can be staged to depict various crimes and situations professionals may encounter in their occupations. These scenarios are specifically designed to advance skills in detecting child abuse and promoting early intervention in addition to improving investigation, prosecution and litigation procedures to ensure that victims receive the support they need.